I'm having a little trouble accepting December, are you? Accepting it means I've been complaining about Christmas music in stores for a month already!

     I am always bothered when Christmas appears before November 11th. Once again I was privileged to do the Remembrance Day ceremony at Edmonton International Airport. Next year if you are looking for an indoor way to remember the contribution of millions of Canadians, consider coming to EIA. They've got it all. 

     If I'm being completely honest,  I can't even think about the holiday season until Grey Cup is over. My team made a good run, but I got to sit in a windy Calgary stadium and watch them be eliminated. The Stampeders advanced to the Cup, only to lose it to the Toronto Argonauts . 

      Ottawa put on a good Grey Cup Festival, and it was wonderful to see so many friends from across the continent. I had several meetings with the CFL Alumni Association and related parties (I'm their governance nerd) and also attended the Legends Luncheon. This was a glorious event attended by a thousand people, celebrating all the former players who have entertained us in the 105 years of our game. Over 100 alumni were present and it was a very special time. Monies raised go the alumni support fund.

     The Grey Cup game itself was a delightful display of " being Canadian." Seriously: Grey Cup, snow, sled dogs, Shania, Mounties -- Sooooooo Canadian. The snow was gorgeous and even though we were soaked to the skin, it was a blessing to be in the middle of it all.  Now starts that long off-season (for me, NOT the most wonderful time of the year). 

     I enjoyed work trips to Golden, Calgary, Red Deer, Ponoka, and Ottawa. I also did a webinar, which expanded my reach but didn't require me to put on lipstick. (Of course, I did anyway).

     I had the privilege of working with some really interesting boards and was also invited to participate in a think tank about how we might make non-profits more effective (impact) and efficient. With the brains and experience around that table, hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, I have to think we'll come up with something to change the game for the organizations working so hard in our communities. Fingers are crossed!

     There has been a shift in my own board participation. My time as a public member (serving at the pleasure of the Province of Alberta) on two boards has come to an end. Those were tremendous experiences (4 and 6 years respectively), but now they get someone fresh and I get to pursue other opportunities. I have been interviewed for a couple of boards, so let's see what happens. And of course, there are 3 other boards that I'm still on. 

     If it sounds like a lot, I suppose it is. However, I don't think it would be right for me to work with boards without first-hand, current knowledge about what boards face every day. So yes, I am giving back but it's also my professional development.  

     I got my first glimpse inside Edmonton's downtown arena (a year old). Thanks to Delta Hotels and a good friend, I attended the Professional Bull Riders World Cup. That was a blast! We overlooked the bulls, and you could really see which ones were having a bad day (most of them!). Bull riders are clearly a special breed.

     I am always so grateful that even when busy or out of town, I find friends who want to have a coffee or lunch (yes, or a beer). It's important that we take time for meaningful connections, and I feel very privileged in that regard.

     I hosted a reading of my football play TRUE GRID with the original cast and director. We laughed ourselves silly, it was so brilliant to be together again. I think audiences can expect a rewrite and remount in 2018. My new play still stymies me, but I am pushing forward. I am also working with a community theatre group that is doing my play FOUR IN THE CRIB in the new year (road trip!). So while I sometimes feel stuck, I do have evidence that my creative juices are still flowing in a few directions.

     

One of the great things about the CFL is that players, alumni, and the Grey Cup itself are so accessible. I will never have enough pictures with the Cup.

            

     Cheers from the Grey Cup and from my home to yours. I w ish you all the very best of the season (even though it seems too early to say that). I am grateful for each of you. 

          

"At the end of each day, life should ask: 

'Do you want to save the changes?'"

-- 

Unknown

A: Less is More (or Enough)

                        

/lmwe